Practice

So, for my Environmental Ethics class, we are each writing a paper about an environmental issue and it's ethical implications. No surprise, I'm writing about the ethics of GMOs, especially plant crops.

Generally these are the 4 things that I am discussing

-The ethics of actually genetically modifying them- changing the telos (interdirectedness) of a plant

-Biopiracy- patenting of genes

-Sustainability- (it's not...)

-Loss of biodiversity (uncool, folks)

We all had to put up our abstracts on a class blog and everyone asked everyone questions about them. Our final is to choose 2 to answer, along with one from our professor. Here are the questions I've chosen:

“Have you though about investigating the corporations that are supporting and producing GMOs, such as Monsanto? Also, have you considered the ethics of companies patenting these newly genetically modified seeds and how this effects farmers and they way they conduct their business?”

In response: Monsanto tries there best, I really do believe they care about farmers, but they are also all about profit. They are patenting these genes so they can be the only ones to make the money off of them, which implies they are putting money ahead of their farmers, who are paying more for the seed and aren't allowed to save seed, either. It is causing a gap in farming- there are LARGE (huge, really) monoculture farms on one side, and small organic on the other, with very little in between. Only about 1% of food is grown organically in the U.S.

“If GM plants are stopped what effect would this have on other nations struggling to produce food? If GM planets were being developed in a 3rd world country or a country struggling to produce food would GM planets go against the utilitarian point of view in their mind?”

In response: GM plants are undermining the sustainability of our food system. Conventional farming degrades soil, produces "super-pests", uses more water generally, and increases the pesticide use. So if we really want to make sure that we can feed everyone in the world, an unsustainable farming method is not going to get us anywhere.

Rough responses, but I am excited to finish this paper.